Seguir Conjugation in Portuguese
seguir means “to follow” in English, and it is one of the first verbs Portuguese learners meet — it sits at number 287 in VerbFlow’s frequency list for Portuguese verbs. It means to follow, and it is a stem-change verb: the present eu form is siguo, with gu, while the tu form keeps e — segues, segue, seguimos, seguis, seguem. Its pretérito perfeito is segui, seguiste, seguiu, and its participle is seguido. It also means to continue, as in following a road or following a story. This page gives you the complete conjugation of seguir — every tense, every person, the gerund and the past participle — with notes, examples, common mistakes and a quiz. Here is the verb in a natural sentence: “Eu siguo a Maria todos os dias.” — “I follow Maria.”
Quick facts
- Infinitive: seguir
- English: to follow
- Verb type: Regular -ir verb
- Irregular in: none — regular in every tense
- Gerund: seguindo
- Present participle: seguinte
- Past participle: seguido
- Auxiliary: ter (all perfect tenses are formed with ter + the past participle)
- Ending: -ir verbs; pattern ir in the verified tables
Pronunciation
Pronunciation is not listed on this page: the verified tables do not include IPA for seguir, so no pronunciation is given rather than an invented one. Learn the spelling of the forms first, and listen to a native speaker for the sounds rather than trusting an invented transcription. The forms below are the ones that matter: once you can read seguir in every tense, you can recognise it in speech even before you can pronounce every form perfectly.
Three things to remember about seguir
- It is regular: every form follows the ordinary -ir pattern, so once you know the stem you can build the whole table. The only work is learning the endings, not memorising exceptions.
- The perfect tenses use ter: the pretérito perfeito composto is formed with ter in the present plus the past participle seguido. The tables on this page give the participle in the masculine singular form, exactly as it appears in the verified dump; agreement with the subject is a separate step that depends on the sentence, not on the verb table.
- The gerund is seguindo, the present participle is seguinte and the past participle is seguido: keep all three in mind as you read the tables, because the gerund appears in progressive constructions, the present participle appears as an adjective, and the past participle appears in every perfect tense. If you know those three forms and the present tense, you already know the skeleton of the whole conjugation.
Full conjugation tables
Every form below comes from VerbFlow’s verified conjugation tables for seguir. Learn the present tense first, then the pretérito perfeito and the pretérito imperfeito, and add the remaining tenses one at a time.
Present indicative (presente)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | siguo |
| tu | segues |
| ele/ela | segue |
| nós | seguimos |
| vós | seguis |
| eles/elas | seguem |
The present indicative (presente) is used for habits, facts and things happening now. For example: “Eu siguo a Maria todos os dias.” — “I follow Maria”
Pretérito perfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | segui |
| tu | seguiste |
| ele/ela | seguiu |
| nós | seguimos |
| vós | seguistes |
| eles/elas | seguiram |
The pretérito perfeito is used for completed actions in the past, especially one finished event. For example: “Eu segui a Maria ontem.” — “I followed Maria”
Pretérito imperfeito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | seguia |
| tu | seguias |
| ele/ela | seguia |
| nós | seguíamos |
| vós | seguíeis |
| eles/elas | seguiam |
The pretérito imperfeito is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, and for background description. For example: “Eu seguia a Maria antigamente.” — “I used to follow Maria”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | seguira |
| tu | seguiras |
| ele/ela | seguira |
| nós | seguíramos |
| vós | seguíreis |
| eles/elas | seguiram |
The pretérito mais-que-perfeito simples is used for an action completed before another past action; in everyday speech the compound form with tinha is more common. For example: “Eu seguira a Maria antes do jantar.” — “I had followed Maria”
Futuro do presente
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | seguirei |
| tu | seguirás |
| ele/ela | seguirá |
| nós | seguiremos |
| vós | seguireis |
| eles/elas | seguirão |
The futuro do presente is used for what will happen, for predictions and for promises. For example: “Eu seguirei a Maria amanhã.” — “I will follow Maria”
Futuro do pretérito
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | seguiria |
| tu | seguirias |
| ele/ela | seguiria |
| nós | seguiríamos |
| vós | seguiríeis |
| eles/elas | seguiriam |
The futuro do pretérito is used for what would happen, for polite requests and for hypothetical situations. For example: “Eu seguiria a Maria um dia.” — “I would follow Maria”
Pretérito perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenho seguido |
| tu | tens seguido |
| ele/ela | tem seguido |
| nós | temos seguido |
| vós | tendes seguido |
| eles/elas | têm seguido |
The pretérito perfeito composto is used for actions that started in the past and continue, or have been repeated, up to the present. For example: “Ele tem seguido a Maria esta semana.” — “He has followed Maria”
Pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tinha seguido |
| tu | tinhas seguido |
| ele/ela | tinha seguido |
| nós | tínhamos seguido |
| vós | tínheis seguido |
| eles/elas | tinham seguido |
The pretérito mais-que-perfeito composto is used for an action completed before another past action. For example: “Eu tinha seguido a Maria antes do jantar.” — “I had followed Maria”
Futuro do presente composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | terei seguido |
| tu | terás seguido |
| ele/ela | terá seguido |
| nós | teremos seguido |
| vós | tereis seguido |
| eles/elas | terão seguido |
The futuro do presente composto is used for what will have happened by a point in the future. For example: “Eu terei seguido a Maria até amanhã.” — “I will have followed Maria”
Futuro do pretérito composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | teria seguido |
| tu | terias seguido |
| ele/ela | teria seguido |
| nós | teríamos seguido |
| vós | teríeis seguido |
| eles/elas | teriam seguido |
The futuro do pretérito composto is used for what would have happened in a different past. For example: “Eu teria seguido a Maria ontem.” — “I would have followed Maria”
Presente do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | sigua |
| tu | siguas |
| ele/ela | sigua |
| nós | siguamos |
| vós | siguais |
| eles/elas | siguam |
The presente do subjuntivo is used for wishes, doubts, emotions and opinions after que. For example: “É importante que eu sigua a Maria.” — “It is important that I follow Maria”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | seguisse |
| tu | seguisses |
| ele/ela | seguisse |
| nós | seguíssemos |
| vós | seguísseis |
| eles/elas | seguissem |
The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo is used in the past for wishes and hypotheticals after que, and in se-clauses. For example: “Era importante que eu seguisse a Maria.” — “It was important that I follow Maria”
Futuro do subjuntivo
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | seguir |
| tu | seguires |
| ele/ela | seguir |
| nós | seguirmos |
| vós | seguirdes |
| eles/elas | seguirem |
The futuro do subjuntivo is used after se and quando for a future possibility, where English would use the present. For example: “Se eu seguir a Maria, é bom.” — “If I follow Maria, that is good”
Imperativo (affirmative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | segue |
| ele/ela | sigua |
| nós | siguamos |
| vós | segui |
| eles/elas | siguam |
The affirmative imperative is used for direct commands and instructions. For example: “Segue a Maria!” — “Follow Maria!”
Imperativo (negative)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| tu | não siguas |
| ele/ela | não sigua |
| nós | não siguamos |
| vós | não siguais |
| eles/elas | não siguam |
The negative imperative is used for prohibitions and negative commands. For example: “Não siguas a Maria.” — “Do not follow Maria.”
Presente do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tenha seguido |
| tu | tenhas seguido |
| ele/ela | tenha seguido |
| nós | tenhamos seguido |
| vós | tenhais seguido |
| eles/elas | tenham seguido |
The presente do subjuntivo composto is used for a completed action in a subordinate clause expressing doubt, wish or emotion. For example: “É importante que eu tenha seguido a Maria.” — “It is important that I have followed Maria”
Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tivesse seguido |
| tu | tivesses seguido |
| ele/ela | tivesse seguido |
| nós | tivéssemos seguido |
| vós | tivésseis seguido |
| eles/elas | tivessem seguido |
The pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo composto is used for a completed action in a past subordinate clause. For example: “Era importante que eu tivesse seguido a Maria.” — “It was important that I had followed Maria”
Futuro do subjuntivo composto
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| eu | tiver seguido |
| tu | tiveres seguido |
| ele/ela | tiver seguido |
| nós | tivermos seguido |
| vós | tiverdes seguido |
| eles/elas | tiverem seguido |
The futuro do subjuntivo composto is used after se for a completed future possibility. For example: “Se eu tiver seguido a Maria, é bom.” — “If I have followed Maria, that is good”
Gerund
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Gerund | seguindo |
The gerund is used for an action happening at the same time as another action, often with estar for the progressive. For example: “Seguindo a Maria, aprendo muito.” — “While following Maria, I learn a lot.”
Present participle
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Present participle | seguinte |
The present participle is used as an adjective, describing an ongoing action. For example, the participle seguinte is used to describe something that is happening at the same time as the main action, much like an English -ing adjective. You will meet seguinte more often as an adjective or a noun than as a verb form, so learn it as a word in its own right.
Past participle
| Form | Portuguese |
|---|---|
| Past participle | seguido |
The past participle is used with an auxiliary to form the perfect tenses, and as an adjective. For example: “Eu tenho seguido a Maria esta semana.” — “I have followed Maria.”
Example sentences
Ten natural sentences with seguir, covering different tenses and persons. Say each one aloud, then cover the Portuguese and try to produce it from the English.
- “Eu siguo a Maria todos os dias.” — “I follow Maria”
- “Tu seguiste a Maria ontem.” — “You followed Maria”
- “Ele seguia a Maria antigamente.” — “He used to follow Maria”
- “Eu seguirei a Maria amanhã.” — “I will follow Maria”
- “Tu seguirias a Maria um dia.” — “You would follow Maria”
- “Ele tem seguido a Maria esta semana.” — “He has followed Maria”
- “Eu tinha seguido a Maria antes do jantar.” — “I had followed Maria”
- “Tu terás seguido a Maria até amanhã.” — “You will have followed Maria”
- “É importante que eu sigua a Maria.” — “It is important that I follow Maria”
- “Segue a Maria!” — “Follow Maria!”
Common mistakes
1. Using the infinitive instead of a conjugated form
✗ Wrong: “Eu seguir a Maria.”
✓ Right: “Eu siguo a Maria todos os dias.”
The infinitive seguir never takes a subject. After eu you need the conjugated present form siguo.
2. Using the wrong person’s form
✗ Wrong: “Eu segues a Maria.”
✓ Right: “Eu siguo a Maria todos os dias.”
segues is the tu form, not the eu form. Match the verb to the subject every time: eu goes with siguo.
3. Using the present for a finished past action
✗ Wrong: “Eu siguo a Maria ontem.”
✓ Right: “Eu segui a Maria ontem.”
Ontem points to the past, so the present is wrong here. Use the pretérito perfeito segui for a finished action yesterday.
4. Using the wrong auxiliary in the pretérito perfeito composto
✗ Wrong: “Eu sou seguido a Maria.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho seguido a Maria esta semana.”
The pretérito perfeito composto of seguir is formed with ter plus the past participle seguido: the eu form is tenho seguido. Check the auxiliary in the table above before you build a perfect tense.
5. Using the indicative after a subjunctive trigger
✗ Wrong: “É importante que eu siguo a Maria.”
✓ Right: “É importante que eu sigua a Maria.”
After é importante que Portuguese needs the subjunctive, so use sigua here, not the indicative siguo.
6. Using the gerund instead of the past participle in a perfect tense
✗ Wrong: “Eu tenho seguindo a Maria.”
✓ Right: “Eu tenho seguido a Maria esta semana.”
The perfect tenses need the past participle seguido, not the gerund seguindo. The gerund belongs in progressive constructions, never after an auxiliary in a perfect tense.
Quiz: test yourself
Ten questions on seguir. Choose the right form, then check the answer key below.
What is the eu form of seguir in the Present indicative (presente)?
- A) segues
- B) siguo
- C) segue
- D) seguimos
What is the ele/ela form of seguir in the Pretérito perfeito?
- A) segui
- B) seguiste
- C) seguiu
- D) seguimos
What is the nós form of seguir in the Pretérito imperfeito?
- A) seguia
- B) seguias
- C) seguíeis
- D) seguíamos
What is the tu form of seguir in the Futuro do presente?
- A) seguirás
- B) seguirei
- C) seguirá
- D) seguiremos
What is the eu form of seguir in the Futuro do pretérito?
- A) seguirias
- B) seguiria
- C) seguiríamos
- D) seguiríeis
What is the ele/ela form of seguir in the Pretérito perfeito composto?
- A) tenho seguido
- B) tens seguido
- C) tem seguido
- D) temos seguido
What is the ele/ela form of seguir in the Presente do subjuntivo?
- A) siguas
- B) siguamos
- C) siguais
- D) sigua
What is the eu form of seguir in the Pretérito imperfeito do subjuntivo?
- A) seguisse
- B) seguisses
- C) seguíssemos
- D) seguísseis
What is the gerund of seguir?
- A) seguido
- B) seguindo
- C) seguir
- D) siguo
What does seguir mean in English?
- A) to ask for
- B) to receive
- C) to follow
- D) to pay
Answer key
- B) siguo — the correct form is siguo. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) seguiu — the correct form is seguiu. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) seguíamos — the correct form is seguíamos. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) seguirás — the correct form is seguirás. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) seguiria — the correct form is seguiria. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) tem seguido — the correct form is tem seguido. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- D) sigua — the correct form is sigua. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- A) seguisse — the correct form is seguisse. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- B) seguindo — the correct form is seguindo. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
- C) to follow — the correct form is to follow. The other options are other forms of the same verb.
Frequently asked questions
What does seguir mean in English?
seguir means “to follow”. It is a core everyday verb, so its present-tense forms are worth learning first.
Is seguir regular or irregular?
seguir is regular: it follows the ordinary -ir pattern in every tense. The gerund is seguindo and the past participle is seguido.
What are the gerund and past participle of seguir?
The gerund is seguindo — use it with estar for the progressive. The past participle is seguido — use it with ter for the perfect tenses, as in tenho seguido.
Which auxiliary does seguir take in the pretérito perfeito composto?
seguir takes ter in the pretérito perfeito composto: the eu form is tenho seguido. All seven compound tenses on this page are built with ter plus the past participle seguido.
How do I say “I follow” in Portuguese?
Say “Eu siguo a Maria todos os dias.” — “I follow Maria” The eu form of the present is siguo, and it is the form you will use most often.
Related pages
- Full conjugation of seguir — every tense of seguir in one place.
- Seguir in the pretérito perfeito tense — the full table and usage rules for one tense.
- Seguir examples and quiz — more example sentences and practice questions for this verb.
- Portuguese pretérito perfeito tense guide — the full guide to the pretérito perfeito tense in Portuguese.
- Pedir conjugation — another everyday Portuguese verb.
- Abrir conjugation — another everyday Portuguese verb.
- Portuguese verbs — the full hub of Portuguese conjugation pages.
- VerbFlow home — all languages, tools and verb lists.
- Verb Conjugator — practise seguir with the interactive tool.
- Conjugation Chart Printer — practise seguir with the interactive tool.
- Tense Finder — practise seguir with the interactive tool.